Lawn-mower journal-bearing.



rammed sept. n, |900.

W. G. VERNON.

LAWN MOWER JOURNAL BEARING.

(Application tiled July 13, 1900.)

(No Model.)

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. VERNON, OF WALLINGFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

LAWN-MOWER JOURNAL-BEARING.

`SiP11CIFICJAIEIOBT forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,715, dated September 11, 1900.

i Application iil'ed July 13, 1900. Serial No. 23.452. (No model.)

To LZ-Z whom t may concern,.-

Be it known ,that LWILLIAM G.VERNoN, a citizen of the United States, residing atWallingford, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lawn-Mower Journal-Bearings, of which the following is a specication. Y

My invention relates to improvements in journal-bearings, and especially for those oflawn-mowers, and has for its objects the providing of simple mechanism by means of which the journal is adjustably followed up by the cap, to take up both vertical and side wear, and in its movement to be self-centered under the. journal, thereby insuring even wear, absence of lost motion, and in consequence eliminate rattling and chattering' when running, and by my adjustment the annoyance of operating numerous set-screws by unskilful persons who are apt to derange the working parts is entirely done away with, the life and usefulness of the machine much prolonged, and much expense saved in first cost.

l attain the objects of my invention by the mechanism-illustrated in the accompanying` drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation of a lawn-mower side plate with my mechanism in place. Fig. 2 is the same elevation as Fig. 1 with the movable parts removed. Fig. 3 is a section on line A B, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is'an edge elevation of the side plate with a part of it in section. Fig. 5 is like Fig. 4, except that the cap-lever and its fastening are shown in place. Fig. 6 is an edge or top view of the cap-lever. Fig. 7 is a section of the cap-lever on line C D, Fig. 1.

Similar figures of reference indicate similar part-s throughout the views.

The side plate 1 has a hub 2 formed thereon on which is placed the lawn-mower driving- Wheel, (not shown,) and a bearing 3 is formed on the plate to receive the journal 4 of the cutting-cylinder (not shown) and its gear at its upper side. The blades of the cutting-cylinder although spirally formed to present a continuons surface to the stationary knife are nevertheless somewhat intermittent in their action, and consequently if the journal 4 is not kept firmly up to its bearing 3 therewill be lost motion, with chattering and rattling of parts and ineffectual work. My mechanism overcomes the noisy objections and provides a positive means to keep the journal 4 in its bearing 3 and to follow up any wear that may be made in the bearing by the journal and with mechanism which is readily adjusted by any one and which overcomes the objections to the mechanism heretofore in use, where numerous set-screws must be adjusted and which adjustment was seldom understood by those using the inachine or whose duty it was to keep the machine in proper working condition and order.

It is essential to keep journal 4 in close contact with its bearing 3, and for such purpose I have provided a cap 5, with means thereto attached to insure such constant contact. The cap 5 passes under the journal 4 and is formed on one side of a lever 6,l resting upon a fnlcrum 7, which is shown integrally formed on plate 1, although it may equally well be otherwise attached, if desired. Around fulcrum 7 there is an opening 8 through lever 6, and its upper or bearing side 9 is fiattened to enable the cap 5 to have side adjustment to any wear of the journal 4 in its bearing 3, and the upper or bearing side of fulcrum 7 is rounded to permit perfect freedom in adjustment.

A pocket 10 is formed in plate 1 under journal 4, into which cap 5 is introduced. Lever 6 extends toward the opposite side of side plate 1 from bearing 3 and is broadened to produce the needed weight to keep cap 5 up to its position under journal 4. I also provide a spring l1 to assist the weight when being adjusted or to hold the lever 6 from chattering if its fastening becomes loose. The spring is placed in the half-pockets '12 in side plate l and 13 in lever 6 and one end abuts the end of pocket 13, which is shorter than pocket 12, and the other end abuts projection 14 on side plate 1.

I secure the lever 6 and its cap 5 in place on side plate 1 by bolt 15, the bolt passing through an opening 16 in lever 6 and with freedom enough for the necessary movement of surface 9 on fulcrum 7 and thereafter through a slot 17, formed through side plate l, concentric with the bearing-point of fulcrum 7. The head 18 of bo1t15 is square and is seated in a recess 19 no .prevent its yturning and has at the outside of 'said .plate l a nut 20, rounded upon its bearing-face, which is seated upon an inclined surface 21 22, the end 21- being the highest in order to prevent any upward movement ofthe nut, its bolt, and leverv 6 when 'the nut 'isi screwed up. The lever 6 will bear on plate 1 at the points @c only to insure cap 5 being securely held longitudinally under journal 4:. Plate l has a depression 25,- a somewhat deeper depression 26, and a still deeper de- 1 pression 27.

I claiml. In a lawn-mower, a side plate, a driving- Y wheel bearing, a cutting-cylinder bearing i composed of a iiXed upper part integral with the side plate, a journal, a cap for the jour- L nal and its bearing and which is fixed to vra :i lever, a lever, a f ulc'rum', the lever having a weighted outer end,vand means at the weighted yend to secure the lever to the side .plate and its attached bearing-cap undei` the cutting-cylinder journal. i

2. In a bearing, a plate wheretothe bearing is secured above the journal, a bearing eonsisting of a xed upper part above thejournal, a j ourn al,a movable and adjustable lower part 1 for the bearing, a lever to which the lower. part of the bearing is attached, means to secure the lever adjustably on its fulcrum for 1 movements which permit the lower part ofi the bearing to adjust Vitself truly to 'the journals under and rounded surface, the lever having an outer end formed to increase the Weight at this end of the lever, and means to secure the weighted end of the lever for vertical movement.

3. In a divided j ournal-bearing,a side plate, an upper part for the bearing which is axed to the side plate and wherein the journal is seated, a journal, a lower and movable part for the bearing, a lever whereon the lower part of the bearing is fixed, and having a i weighted end, a spring seated in manner to press against the weighted end of the lever to force the movable part of the bearing to fthe journal, and means to secure the lever to the side plate and the movable part of the bearing longitudinally under the bearing and permit its vertical adjustment.

4. In a bearing, a side plate, a journal, an upper Fixed lpart for the bearing, von the plate, a lower movable part attached to a lever, a lever V'having a weighted end, means therethrough `and through a slot in the side plate to secu re the lever, an inclined seat surrou nding theslot upon the outer side of the plate whereon the securing means is prevented from moving upward, if loosened, to prevent the movable part'of the bearing from leaving its posi-'tion under the journal.

'In testimony whereof I Vaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM G. VERNON. Witnesses:

R; C. WRIGHT, WILLIAM C. S'roEvER. 

